Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be In Philly By Mid December: Officials

Philadelphia PA

24 November, 2020

2:28 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's top doctor says he's hopeful that vaccines will be available in Philadelphia as early as next month, but warned residents of increasing cases and hospitalizations. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley Tuesday said it is likely vaccines will be available in Philadelphia in mid December. Two vaccines have shown more than 95 percent effectiveness, one of which is being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration now. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are likely to be the first candidates to be distributed in Pennsylvania. >>>RELATED: See Philadelphia's Newest Coronavirus Restrictions<<< Pfizer will be submitting an application for emergency use authorization very soon, Levine said. Moderna is expected to do the same in the coming weeks. Once the emergency use authorization is approved, Levine said the Pennsylvania Department of Health will work to ensure that the vaccines are appropriately distributed. This will happen in three phases. When a vaccine comes to Philadelphia, Farley said it will be limited in availability. That means vaccinations will be administered on priority basis. The first group of people who will get the vaccine will be healthcare workers who are routinely exposed to coronavirus, such as nurses caring for coronavirus patients and those working coronavirus testing sites. >>>RELATED: Philly Urges 1-Household Thanksgiving Events As Cases Top 60,000<<< When vaccines are more widely available, more residents will be administered doses. Despite the vaccine's expected arrival, cases are still surging. Farley reported 1,077 new cases Tuesday, bringing the total case count to 61,780. Additionally, 45 probable cases were identified through rapid antigen tests. The week that ended Nov. 21 saw an 765 average daily case count, which is down from 888 the week before. Last week also had an 11.8 percent positivity rate, which is the same rate as the previous week. Farley said that could be indicative of a leveling trend, a pause before further increases, or a reversal in rising rates. Still, Farley said daily cases are sill extremely high. Seven new deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 1,960. The week of Nov. 8 had 31 deaths and the week of Nov. 15 had 17 deaths, but that figure is expected to rise. These figures are a substantial increase from 10 deaths a week reported in September. Hospitalizations are rising in Philadelphia and the state. Farley said 672 patients are being tested for coronavirus in Philadelphia hospitals, which is up from 542 patients reported last Thursday. Hospitals in Philadelphia reached a peak of about 1,000 patients in the spring. In Pennsylvania, Farley said more than 3,400 patients are hospitalized, which is an increase from the 2,900 figure reported Thursday last week.